We picked up a win in our return to NRFI action with the Mets and the Phillies both getting a slow start out of the break. Now, we have some NRFI bets for July 17.
After just a single game of action on Thursday, we’re back to the full docket on Friday. We dug through all of those games to find you the best available spots. Come check out what we have cooked up for this slate of games.
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MLB NRFI and YRFI Picks – July 17
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Boston Red Sox
First Pitch – 1:35 pm EST
Fenway Park – Boston, MA
Broadcast – MLB TV
The Red Sox continue to be the NRFI well that we just keep going back to. There are tons of reasons to like them fresh out of the break as well. Firstly, one of their young guns is back on the hill – Jake Bennett. Bennett hasn’t allowed more than two earned runs in a start since June 10th. That lowered his season ERA to 2.64 with a WHIP under 1.00. Although Tampa Bay is in first place, it’s not because of their offense. They rank in the middle of the pack in runs scored and are in the bottom third of the league in first inning scoring. That should help Bennett get his second half of the season started right.
The second reason that the Red Sox are an NRFI gold mine is that they have been poor at the plate. Their 4.10 runs per game has them ranked 26th in the majors. On top of that, they are even worse in the first inning. In fact, they rank dead last in the majors with just 0.37 first inning runs per game. All of that should help out Griffin Jax, who is on an excellent run at the moment. In his last seven starts (36.0 innings), he’s allowed just nine earned runs for a 2.25 ERA in that span. With these Red Sox at the plate, there shouldn’t be any issue with him giving us a clean first frame.
NRFI/YRFI Bet for July 17: No (TBD)
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Cleveland Guardians
First Pitch – 7:10 pm EST
Progressive Field – Cleveland, OH
Broadcast – MLB TV
Nobody scored more runs in the first inning than the Pirates, which means we’re tailing the pitcher here on the NRFI. I’m fine with that as Gavin Williams has allowed two or less runs in three of his last four starts. He’s also seen a big spike in his swing and miss stuff in that span. He has accumulated 31 strikeouts in just 21.2 innings over that span of time. That should help him pitch out of any early jams and get us that NRFI in the top of the first.
The bottom of the inning should be less of a sweat. Only the Padres scored less runs than Cleveland in the first half of the year. Those two squads were the only two that did not crack 4.00 runs per game in that span. Additionally, they are firmly in the bottom third of the league when it comes to scoring runs in the first. That’s music to the ears of Jared Jones, who toes the rubber for Pittsburgh on Friday. He’s allowed one or less runs in three of his last four games leading into the break. He saved his best outing for last – 6.0 no-hit innings against the Braves with eight strikeouts. The Guardians should be easy pickings for Jones.
NRFI/YRFI Bet for July 17: No (TBD)
If you’d like even more info to help make your NRFI and YRFI picks for July 17, check out the MLB Gambling Podcast. They’re dropping episodes five days a week to make you the smartest guy/gal at the bar with their MLB picks today.
